Recording mechanism for meters.



R. C. LANPHIER.

RECORDING MECHANISM FOR METERS.

APPLICATION FILED 1411 3.22 1911 998,01 6, Patented July 18, 1911.

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2 SHBETS-SHBET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

ROBERT C. LANPHIER, 0F SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TG SANGAMO ELECILBIG COMPANY, OF SPRINGFIELD,

ILLINOIS, A COBPdBATION OF ILLINOIS.

Specification 01 Letters Patent.

Patented July 18, 1911,

I Application flied {latch 22, 1811. Serial No. 616,202.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT C. LANPHIER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield,'county of San amon, "State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usetancefrom a meter instead of being driven directly by gearing" from the rotating ele' ment or other moving part of the meter.

My invention is particularly intended for use withelectric integrating meters, and in the form' shown is especially adapted for use in connection with storage batteries on e1ectrio vehicles, electric lighted cars, and the like.

It has for a special object in this construction to provide that the distant-operated indicating hand shall turn morerapidly in pro ortion to the current passing on the disc arge of the storage battery than it does on charge to compensate for the loss in the storage battery. The mechanism may be arranged as show the true amount of current used /for charging the battery or to show the true amount of currentpassed during the discharge of the battery. In either'event, the indicating hand is moved around the dial in one direction as the battery is charged, and then moved relatively faster in the reverse direction by the passage of the current in the reverse direction through the meter on the discharge of the battery. The means by which I have accomplished this object are illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter specifically described.

That which I believe to be new is set forth in the claims.

In the drawings,-Figure is a diagrammatic view of myimproved apparatus. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail ofthe mechanism by which the movement of the indicating hand is directly caused being across-section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a top or plan view, partly in section, of the parts shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to the several figures of the .a mercury chamber .23 indicates a circuit wire end to the negative side of the stora desired to have the indicatordrawings, in which corresponding parts are lnd 'cated by the same reference characters,- 10 indicates a casin of a meter, inclosing l1 closed at the bottom by aplate 12.

13 indicates a spindle bearing an armature 14=,and a float 15 which is adapted to buoy up the spindle and its connected parts in the mercury in the chamber 11.

16 indicates a ide carried by the bottomlate 12 in w ich the lower end of the spin le 13 is adapted to work.

17 indicates a permanent ma et of any appropriate type having its p0 es in close proximity to the armature 14, and 18 indicates a return plate in the form of a ring located directly above and only a short distance from the poles of the ma et 17.

19 indicates contacts extending into the mercury chamber 11 at opposite sides of the armature 14.

20 indicates a storage side of which is connected to one of tacts 19 by awire 21.

22 indicates av circuit wire connectcd'at one end to the other of the contacts 19, and connected at one e bat tery. The wires 22-23 are adapte to be connected respectively to the positive and negative sides of a generator for the purpose of chargin the battery 20, as will be readil ,nmderstoo or to be connected to the load circuit for they discharge of the battery, the rate of rotation of the armature battery the ositive e con- 14 being in either case a measure of the amount of current passing.

24 indicates a worm. cut on the spindle 13, meshing with which is a worm-gear 25 mounted on a shaft 26 sup orted in any appropriate manner in the rarnework of t e meter. By this means, when the spindle 13 is rotated the shaft 26 is given a corresponding rotation.

21 indicates a disk of insulating material mounted on the shaft 26.

28 indicates contacts carried by the disk '27 and connected electrically with the shaft 26 which is connected by a wire 29 with the battery 20, or with of electrical power.

30 indicates a brush bearing on the edge of the disk 27, connected in the manner hereinafter described with the battery 1" or t er sui a ource of e ectrical power in any other suitable source circuit with the wire 29. By this means, as will be readily understood, as the shaft 26 and disk 27 rotate slowly, a current is sent intermittently through the circuit comprising thewire 29 and the brush 30, the fre quency of thepassa fe of the current depending entirely upon tie rapidity of the rotation of the armature 14, or, in other words, depending upon the strength of the current passing through the meter.

31 indicates an elcctro-inagnet, the coil of which is, in the construction shown, connected in series with the circuit through the;

meter between the positive side of the battery and the meter. It will thus be seen that when the battery is being discharged the upper end of the magnet 31 is the south pole, and that when the battery is bein charged with the current passing throng the coil in the opposite direction the upper end of the magnet becomes the north pole. The drawings represent the conditions when the battery is being discharged.

32 indicates a polarized arm pivoted at 33 in any suitable manner, the left-hand end of which as shown in Fig. 1 is a south pole.

34 indicates a coiled sprin tending to hold the end of the arm to w ich it is attached yieldingly away from the magnet 31.

35 indicates a wire connecting the arin 32 with the brush 30.

36-37 indicate contacts between which the right-hand end of the arm 32 as shown in Fig. I is adapted to be swung.

38-39 indicate wires connecting the contacts 36-37, res Je'ctively, with electro-magnets 40-41 which are connected by a wire 42 with the storage battery 20, thus completin the circuit through the wire 29 and brus 30 as before described, the circuit bein through the wire 38 or 39 in accordance with the position of the arm 32, as will be readily understood.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3 where the magnets 40-41 and their cooperating parts are shown in detail, 43 indicates a casing in which the magnets 40-41 are suitably mounted. 44 indicates a shaft journaled in said casing 43, keyed or otherwise non-rotatably mounted. on which are two ratchetwheels 45-46. 47 indicates an indicating springs tend int;

hand mounted on the end of said shaft- 44. 48-49 indicate arms pivotally mounted in the casing 43 adapted to be attracted by the magnets 4041 respectively, when energized intermittently by the completion of the cireuit therethrough.

respectively, yieldingly against downward swinging on their lvots. 52-ti8 indicate hooked dogs ivotal y mounted on thearms 48-49, respectively, adapted normally to stand 0 posite the ratchet-wheels 45-46, respeetivciiy, but slightly out of contact there with, bu 'being a apted to engage the teeth 50-51 indicate coiled to hold said arms 48-49,

of said ratchet-Wheelsto cause rotation of the shaft 44 as said arms are swun tdowm ward. 54 indicates a stop carried by each of the arms 48-49 to limit properly the swinging of the dogs toward the ratchetwheels, and 15 indicates springs mounted on the arms 48-4-9 adapted to hold the dogs 52-53 yieldingly against the stops 56 indicates set-screws mounted in the ends of the arms ls--19, adapted to limit the downward stroke oi said arms. As shown in Fig. 2, the arm 48 is to be given a slightly shorter stroke than the arm 4-9 whereby n'stroke of the arm 49 rotates the shaft 44 in one direction further than a stroke of the arm 48 rotates said shaft in the op iosite direction. This can of course be regulated readily by the adjustment of the set-screws 56.

With the wires 22-23 connected up with a load circuit, a current flows through the meter causinga rotation of the armature I4 and a corresponding rotation of the shaft 26. At intervals, de ending upon the rate of rotation of said sliaft, a current is sent through the wire 29, the brush 30, wire 38,

arm 32, contact 37, wire 39, magnet 41 and wire 42, each momentary current causing a stroke of the arm 49 and a slight rotation of the shaft '44 in a clockwise direction, swin mg the hand 47 in one direction around the ia-l. As before described, in the con struction shown the hand 47 is designed. to be thus moved around the dial to indicate when the battery 20 has reached a substantially discharged condition, ntwhich time the wires 22-23 are to be disconnected from the-load circuit and connected in due time with any suitable source of electrical power, the wire 22 being connected with the positive side. \Vhen a current begins then to flow through the meter circuit and consequently throughthe coil of the magnet 3!, the upper end of the 111: gnet becomes a north pole, whereupon it attracts the arm 32, bringmg the arm'into engagement with the contact 36. 'lhereafter upon the rotation of the armature and of the shaft 26, the intermittent currents through. the circuit 2942 are directed through the wire 38 and magnet 40. each momentary current causing a stroke of the arm 48 and a slight rotation of the shaft 44 in a counter-chickwise direct ion, swinging the hand 47 to indicate the amount of our rent that has passed.

While I have sl'iown which the throw of the arms 48-49 is ad justable by means of the set-screws 56. T do not limit myself to that construction except as hereinafter specifically claimed. indeed, I do not limit thelnmider claims at all to an adjustable throw of the arms 48-49, or their equivalents, since any appropriate means may be used without. departing from my invention for causing the indicating hand to travel further .over the scale in one a construction by direction for a stroke of one arm than said hand travels over the scale in the opposite direction for a stroke of the other arm.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. The combination of an electric meter, til electric circuit, a make-and-break mechaiism in said circuit operated by said meter, in indicating hand, means actuated interuittcntly by the successive currents through mid circuit to move said indicating hand, 111d means actuated intermittently by the MCCPHSlVQ currents through said circuit to more said indicating hand in the opposite lirection at a greater speed relative to the -urrent when the current asses in the oppoiite direction through sait meter.

2. The combination of an electric meter, H1 electric circuit part of which is double so hat the current may be directed. through ither one of the two bran hes, a make-andreak mechanism in said circuit operated by laid meter, a switch adapted to complete the zircuit through one or the other of said 'iranches in accordance with the direction. of

he current through said meter, an indicatng hand, means intermittently actuated by he current throu b one of said branches to nove said indicating hand, and means interoittently actuated by the current throughhe other of said branches to move said inlicating hand in the opposite direction.

3. The combination of an" electric meter, an electric circuit part of which is double so hat the current may be directed through ither one of the two branches, a make-and \reak mechanism in said circuit adapted to 1e operated by said meter, a switch adapted complete the circuit through one or the ther of said branches in accordance with he direction of the current through said neter, an indicating hand, means intermitently actuated by the current through one if said branches to move said indicating mud, and means intermittently actuated by be current through .the other of said :ranches to move said indicating hand in he opposite direction at a greater speed rel dive to the strength of the current passing hrough the meter.

4. The combination of an electric meter, n electric circuit part of, which is double so but the current may be directed through wither one of the two branches, a make-andireak mechanism in said circuit operated )y said meter, a polarized switch adapted to iomplete the circuit through either of said iranches, an electro-magnet adapted to atract or repel said switchto cause it to romplete the circuit through, one or the other at said branches in accordance with the di motion of the current thcrethrough', means ntermittently actuated by the current through one of said branches to move said indicating hand, and means intermittently actuated by the current through the other of said branches tomove said indicating hand in the opposite direct-ion.

The combination of a storage battery, an electric meter, a circuit connecting said battery and said meter, a second electric circuit part of which. is double so that the current may be directed through either one of the two branches, a make-nnd-brcuk mcchanism in said' second circuit operated by said meter, a polarized, switch adapted to complete the circuit through either of said branches, an electro-magnet energized by current passing through the meter circuit, said magnet being adiuited to attract or repel said polarized switcll ito cause it to complete the circuit through one or the other of said branches in accordance with the direction of the current. therethrough, means intermittently actuated by the current through one of said branches to move said indicating hand, and means intermittently actuated by the current through the other of said branches to move said indicating hand in the opposite direction.

6. The combination of an electric meter, an electric circuit part of which is double so that the current may be directed through either one of the two branches, a make-andbreak mechanism in said circuit operated by said meter, a switch adapted to complete'the ,circuit through -one or the other of said branches in accordance with the direction of the current'through said meter, two arms, an indicating hand adapted to be moved in one direction by a movement of one arm and to be moved in the opposite direction by a movement of the other arm, and an electromagnet in each of the branches of said circuit, each of which magnets is adapted to attract and move one of said arms.

7. The combination of an electric meter, an electric circuit part ofwhich is double so that the current may be directed through either one of the two branches, a make-andv break mechanism in said circuit operated by said meter, a. switch adapted to complete the circuit through one or the other of said branches in bccordance with the direction of the current through said meter, two arms, an indicating hand adapted to be moved in one direction by a movement of one arm and to be moved in-\the o posite direction by a movement of the ot or arm, an electromagnet in each of the branches of said circuit, each of which magnets is adapted to attract and move one of said arms, and means for varying the amount of the movement of said indicating hand produced by a full stroke'of one of said ar 8. The combination of an electric meter, an electric circuit part of which is double so that the current may be directed through either onset the two branches, 'e'ifmke-andbreak mechanism in said circuit operated by said meter, in switvh adapted 'to complete the vil'euit through one 01' the other of said imam-hes in iwvonhincv with the direction of the current through said meter, two arms, nu indicating hand adapted in bu moved in one direction by a movement of one urn: and to he moved in the opposite direction by u movement of the other arm, an electromagnet in each of the branches of said cirvuii, each of whivh magnets is :nhipted to ultrznxt and move one of .suid arms, and menus for vowing the h'ng'ih of the sil'oke of ouv of said arms.

1. The vomhinniion of an elocii'iu meter, on elm-trio virvuii purl of whivh is douhh: so ihnl the moment may he dim-dud through vilhvr onv of the (no hiuneius a nmko-andbreak mechanism in said circuit UPCI'ltBd by said meter, a switch adopted to mmpietv the circuit through. one or the other of said branches in accordance with the direction of the current through said me1 or, a revoluhlymounted shaft, an indicating hand mounled thereon, iwo ratchot-wheels mounted on said shaft, an arm pivolaily mounted adjacent to each rzitchebwheol, a dog pivotally mounted on eaoh arm adapted. to stand normally out of engagement with the adjacent ratchet wheel but adapted to engage the same upon a downward stroke of HS arm, an clef-(rd magnet in earl; of the branches-f of said cirmil, each of which magnets is oriented to axilnmt and move dowmvzu'd one of said ill'llH, and means for varying ihe amount of mowmont of said shaft; produced by a fuli stroke of one of said arms.

' ROBERT. L". LANPHIER. W itnessex .Lwon Bonn, (immune A BA'JES. 

